DeShone Kizer, Myles Garrett make good first impressions in Browns’ victory

Cleveland Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer (7) throws during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints, Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Prized rookies DeShone Kizer and Myles Garrett of the Browns acquitted themselves well in their preseason game debuts on Aug. 11 in a 20-14 victory over New Orleans at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Kizer, the former Notre Dame standout, was selected by the Browns in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft .He was the third quarterback to see action, playing the entire second half after starter Brock Osweiler and Cody Kessler took all the snaps in the first half and produced seven points.

Facing second-team and third-team defensive players for the Saints, Kizer completed 11 of 18 pass attempts for 184 yards and one touchdown.

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Kizer and back-up wide receiver Jordan Payton combined in the game’s biggest play, a 45-yard TD pass with 1:58 remaining in the fourth quarter that gave the Browns a 19-14 lead. The PAT by Zane Gonzalez made it 20-14.

The play came on a fourth-and-2 and followed a 22-yard completion from Kizer to back-up wide receiver Rannell Hall that nearly offset the damage done by a holding penalty called on Browns defensive lineman Spencer Drango two plays earlier.

Earlier in the fourth quarter, Kizer hooked up with rookie wide receiver Richard Mullaney on a 52-yard completion to the New Orleans’ 1-yard line. Rookie running back Terrance Magee punched in the touchdown on the next play as the Browns narrowed the gap to 14-13.

“The Saints were very straightforward in what they were going to do. They were going to play you man and blitz,” Kizer said. “You need to be able to take shots if they’re going to do that.. We dialed them up at the right time, got some great protection and were able to make those two big throws.”

Kizer finished with a passer rating of 114.1. He said the way he played and produced in the clutch boosted his confidence.

“This whole process, the goal is to gain confidence in everything we’re doing,” Kizer said. “There’s a reason we’re still in training camp after preseason Game 1. This is till a developmental stage of my career.”

Garrett, the defensive end from Texas A&M taken by the Browns with the first overall pick in the 2017 draft, was credited with one tackle and one quarterback hurry while playing with the first-team defense..

Garrett said he was satisfied with his evening’s work.

“I could have had a sack, but it is what it is,” Garrett said. “I played my game well. I got to where I wanted to go and played hard.”

From his father, Garrett said with a smile, he heard about an unidentified Saints player saying they wanted to “christen” the heralded rookie pass rusher.

“I feel like that’s every team,” Garrett said. “They want to introduce the rookies, especially the guys that got drafted high. But it’s just football and we need to play our game.”

About the Author

David has been a full-time writer with The News-Herald since 1984. He writes about news, sports and entertainment, He served as president of the Television Critics Association from 1993-95. Reach the author at dglasier@News-Herald.com
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